Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom opens up about extradition fight

Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom has taken a swipe at New Zealand's prime minister, accusing him of trying to curry favour with Hollywood film executives by assisting in his extradition.

The German-born former hacker is fighting extradition to the United States on charges of copyright infringement, money laundering and racketeering.

In an interview with the ABC's The Business, Dotcom opens up about a police raid on his mansion in January and seizure of his assets and files.

Authorities have since been ordered to return the data, including CCTV footage of the raid, which Dotcom uploaded onto the internet on Thursday.

US authorities allege Dotcom's original file-sharing website netted $US175 million and cost copyright owners more than $US500 million by offering pirated content for free.

But he says he has been targeted by the film industry because he is seen as a threat.

"Megaupload is not responsible for the piracy problem," he told The Business.

"It's the old business model of Hollywood that is responsible for it, and they want to keep that model alive at any cost."

Dotcom alleges Megaupload raid was part of deal to film The Hobbit

Dotcom claims he has been kept in "a golden cage" in New Zealand since the United States began extradition proceedings against him 18 months ago.

"[Warner Brothers executives] came here they told [New Zealand prime minister John Key] - 'These Megaupload guys are really giving us a headache. The founder, you know, is moving to New Zealand. Can you help us?' And he did," Dotcom said.

"They came here to New Zealand to negotiate with John Key about shooting The Hobbit movies here."

Dotcom says his website was offered up "on a silver platter" as part of negotiations with executives.

"So before they even shoot the movie, they have a business plan, they send that to all their license holders, they raise the majority of the money for a new movie before a single frame is shot," he said.

"That is a business model with a license to print money. Obviously they don’t want to let that go.

"That is why I am in this situation."

Dotcom also says the staggering scale of online surveillance by US spy agencies has triggered an "explosion" of interest in his latest file-sharing website.

Unlike its predecessor, Dotcom's new site Mega offers secure encryption, which he says protects each user's identity and data.

"More people are now aware of the [United States] government capturing everybody's data," Dotcom said.

"Growth has been exploding. [Mega is] a user-generated encryption. You are the only one holding the keys."